THE Steelmen take on Celtic this weekend and Iain Vigurs believes that their most recent meeting in December had a big part to play in inspiring their recent revival.

Iain Vigurs: "Even though you don't want to ever get beat 5-0, 18 points out of 18 is the perfect way to respond."

IAIN VIGURS believes Motherwell's 5-0 thrashing last month by Saturday's opponents Celtic was "exactly what they needed" to spur the Steelmen on to their recent good form.

Neil Lennon's side were rampant at Fir Park early in December as they continued their unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership, which they are looking to extend to 21 games when the Lanarkshire men visit Parkhead.

Stuart McCall's side responded to their Hoops humbling in impressive style by winning six consecutive league games and are looking to make it seven for the first time in 81 years.

Midfielder Vigurs painfully recalled the dismantling by the league leaders but looked at its upside.

"The 5-0 defeat is a bad one to remember," said the 25-year-old. "I have played against Celtic a few times and I think that is the best they have played against my team.

"From the word go, their touch and movement was spot on.

"But it spurred us on in the last six games where we have played some good football, the best we've played this season.

"So it was exactly what we needed. Even though you don't want to ever get beat 5-0, 18 points out of 18 is the perfect way to respond.

"We are good enough and strong enough not to think about that 5-0 game, we will be going there looking to get a result."

Nevertheless, Motherwell are looking for their first win at Celtic Park since 2008 and have not scored in their last seven visits to the east end of Glasgow.

Asked what gave him the confidence to believe that this time could be any different, the former Inverness and Ross County player said: "The way we have been playing recently, we have really clicked as a team.

"We know that we are capable of beating anyone in the league on our day.

"Obviously you need Celtic to have a bad time and it could be tomorrow.

"We need to be on top form, play at a good tempo and press them high, we need to be ready.

"It is always a mentality thing, you need to go into games believing that you can win and I think that's what we need to do tomorrow."

Manager Stuart McCall admits the trip to Celtic Park provides him with a tactical headache.

"You always have a dilemma as a manager when you got to a ground that has certainly not been kind to us over the years," said the former Bradford boss.

"We will go in a confident frame of mind but well aware what they did to us that the last time out and that can always happen.

"A lot of fans will say, 'you have nothing to lose, go and have a go' but you have everything to lose, you have a football game to lose.

"It is trying to get a balance. I remember with Bradford going to Manchester United and being 4-0 down after half an hour and the game was over.

"But we certainly need to come up with something to give us more of an attacking threat, that's for sure."